Table 1.

Sensitivity of results to changes of modelling parameters.

tested parameter	quality/quantity	penetration load (mN)	relative difference (%)	permanent deformation (µm)	relative difference (%)
boundary condition at the innermost layer of the models	fixeda	38.11		2.48
	free slip	37.42	1.81	2.43	2.02
friction between the indenter and models	µ = 0	38.11		2.48
	µ = 1	39.42	3.44	2.34	5.65
length of the models (µm)	550	38.05		2.48
	600	38.10	0.13	2.48	0
	650a	38.11	0.03	2.48	0
	700	38.12	0.03	2.48	0
element size beneath the indentation site (µm), element size in the rest of the models (µm)	0.9, 9a	38.11		2.48
	0.8, 9	38.20	0.24	2.48	0
	0.7, 9	38.26	0.16	2.48	0
	0.9, 9a	38.11		2.48
	0.9, 8	38.10	0.03	2.48	0
	0.9, 7	38.10	0	2.48	0

^aConsidered in the current study.